As the main character of the stage usually appears at the end, it was a little awkward to see the slightly early appearance of the Apple Watch Series 4 (hereinafter Apple Watch 4).  This is because the Apple Watch, which seemingly must be the main character, may be perceived as a supporting actor on the stage. However, it is without doubt that Apple Watch 4 was like an omnibus and was another main character of an Apple event with a each different story. This is because the audience, who saw a myriad of changes such as a bigger screen and well polished design, processing design with increased performance, many sensors, drop detection alarm and ECG, seemed to be mesmerized by the Apple Watch 4. 

Of course, the many changes regarding the Apple Watch 4 that was shown on the stage may have merely been a gesture of deception to sell many products. Yet, if you ask those who use Apple Watch 4, most of them may tell you the exact stories they had heard at the Apple event. Although some may find the ECG function that cannot be used in Korea inconvenient,  you will be inundated with praise for this phenomenal digital device. 

Representative watch screen of Apple Watch 4. The screen includes many information such as time, day, schedule, weather and exercise state.

Fit that makes you feel the happiness of the wrist

There are some stereotypes after experiencing many smart watches before the Apple Watch 4. Of those, I do not like too much the silicon material wrist line. Although it is a common material that can be seen in most smartwatches, its functionality considerably decreases. It has the common problem of not being able to remove sweat in hot summer as well as being thick and heavy in order to support the smartwatch. 

However, it would be difficult to apply such stereotype to Apple Watch 4. Although Korea must defer precise assessment regarding sweat as it is experiencing the period between fall and winter, the basic watch line of Apple Watch 4 is distant from the stereotype regarding the existing watch line that is thick and heavy. It is not a watch line with a different structure to that of previous Apple Watches. However, as there is almost no burden of weight of the main body that is directly transferred to the watch line, it is not inconvenient even if worn for a long time. The secret of the excellent fit is that the thickness of the main body has been reduced from 11.4 mm to 10.7 mm and the sensor part of the watch floor that is made of sapphire and ceramic has been designed in a circular manner to minimize the area that touches the skin.

The floor of the Apple Watch 4, unlike the previous generation that exposed many optic sensors, is cleanly organized focusing on the conductor for heart rate sensor and ECG measurement.

The most amazing thing is the main body that has become exactly 2mm bigger than the previous generation. Although it can be considered as a small change that may merit the term ‘merely’, the result due to such difference is monumental. Such small difference renders the magic of allowing a screen that is 30% bigger. Nevertheless, it still expresses a clear and eligible text and graphic that is both abundant and dynamic. Therefore it is a natural phenomenon that one is seduced by the clear display within a few seconds after completing the setting as well as the freshness of the larger display. Even if one is not a user of the previous generation’s Apple Watch that can easily classify the difference of display, many smartwatches would want to copy the display quality of Apple Watch 4. In addition, since it is a non-circular and square shaped display, the display itself is outstanding that the criticism that it doesn’t look like a watch is meaningless.

Apple Watch 4 does not leave pressed traces on the sensor as it minimizes the area that touches the wrist and does not pressurize either.

Completeness that has become totally different compared to previous series

It isn’t just the display that has changed for Apple Watch 4. The internal parts have also been changed including the Apple S4 processor that has had its design completely changed, self-developed GPU, connectivity strengthened W3 chip for bluetooth 5.0. The performance of the changed part can be easily seen in the execution and movement of the application as it is not a benchmark program. The application execution speed has become faster and the movement of the watch is extremely slick. The joy of touching the Apple Watch 4 has become much bigger. 

I also like the different feeling of haptic feedback that informs the state through vibration. I didn’t like the slippery feeling of the existing Apple Watch when adjusting the digital crown. As I did not like the digital crown which had no scratching feeling whatsoever of the crown spinning when matching the clockwork or the hands of the second or minute, crown haptic was actually real fun. Although the haptic feedback can be merely considered as a vibration level effect, it gives a definite signal as it minutely adjusts the strength of the vibration when pushing and scrolling the digital crown of Apple Watch 4 from front to back and it snaps with a ‘thud’ when it reaches the end. 

In this review, Apple Watch 4 can make a voice call while connected to the mobile phone through Wi-Fi or bluetooth. Although this also existed before, many criticized this aspect. Of course, there is an alternative of using it with connection to bluetooth headset. Yet, calling through just the main body is difficult and not many would be satisfied with the need to add costs.   

Apple Watch has definitely solved this problem. It has increased massively the speaker volume compared to the past series. It can now even be used as a speaker. According to Apple, it does not take too long to know the difference in volume despite the volume being increased by 50%. Moreover, the problem of ringing due to the speaker and mike being in the same place has also been fixed. There is no longer ringing as the speaker and mike are on opposite sides. There will no longer be harm to others when calling with Apple Watch 4. 

Like the previous generations, Apple Watch 4 uses magnetic wireless charging adapter.

A game about sufficient battery life and functions

It is a tradition of Apple Watch that it responds sensitively to the user sitting down for a long time. Apple Watch 4 still detects the movement of the user and organizes the record for this. Even without designating each action of running and walking, Apple Watch 4 automatically leaves all records by tradition. Although it is Apple Watch’s specialty that it induces stretching or breathing when one sits for too long, it may be annoying nagging for those who reject the order of machines.

However, Apple Watch 4 has something different to the traditional track function that is difficult to test. As a function that can give emergency call during  falling accident, if one falls over with a big enough shock, Apple Watch 4 gives an emergency call to the registered contact. Yet, the algorithm that checks the fall is assessed by Apple Watch 4 after analyzing the wrist track and shock acceleration and the actual check is difficult as it does not operate by simply falling. Of course, although I would like to believe this function operates properly, it is difficult to say that it does. I look forward to evidence of those overcoming difficulties thanks to Apple Watch 4.

From personal experience, it is very welcoming that the sleep measurement function has not been included. I am one of those people who have repulsion regarding the measurement of my bodily activity while I am sleeping with my watch on. It is undesirable to assess how well one has slept simply through the data. However, some would disagree. There will be some people in this generation who have hope for assessing their sleep. Although Apple would be preparing to respond to their requirement, they did not answer through Apple Watch 4 and my wrist free from Apple Watch 4 could spend a very comfortable night. 

Although the previous generation Apple Watch has the mike and the speaker in the same place, Apple Watch 4 solved the problem of sound ringing by placing the mike on the digital crown side and placing the speaker on the other side.

Giving false hope in Korea: ECG

Battery is only consumed 20-25% as it is on the wrist for about 12 hours a day. Such consumption may seem like a lot or not. The clock screen is not always on and although the condition of it only coming on when turning the wrist to see the screen is the same, it is a little more improved compared to previous generation Apple Watch. One can probably use the Apple Watch 4 more than 18 hours stated by Apple even if one is wearing it while sleeping. 

There are many reasons for the reduction of battery consumption in Apple Watch 4. The most notable thing is the technical improvement regarding display. As is well known, although the Apple Watch has always used OLED, this time Apple applied the LPTO (Low Temperature Poly-crystalline Oxide) technology for which it owns a patent. As a technology that uses less power and operates high quality OLED, LPTO consumes 5-15% less power. It saves battery by adding small tricks – operating at 30 Hz regeneration when expressing static contents and 60 Hz  when expressing content with a lot of movements.

Although Apple Watch 4 increased completeness in almost all aspects, there a is predicament yet to be solved. Although Apple Watch 4 is being sold in many countries without hardware design change, there is a function that is difficult to use apart from in the US. This is ECG. The reason that many people were interested in Apple Watch 4 was because of their fascination in the ECG where the user can self-examine arrhythmia, yet such function cannot be used in any country apart from the US. Although countries each have their own medical device authentication system, it is rare for countries to implement authentication system of Software as a Medial Device like the US.

Some may still be hoping that they may be able to use ECG in Korea. Evidence of such hope and endless wait is very weak. It is extremely difficult to be accepted as a medical device and although the bill regarding Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) development and sales has been introduced to the National Assembly, the implementation is only possible one year after its legislation. 

Thus it is difficult to say that an Apple Watch 4 without ECG in Korea is a whole product. Therefore, abandon hope for the ECG of Apple Watch 4. Only by abandoning such hope can you spend better days with the Apple Watch 4 being sold at prices as they should be. 

The rectangular shape case of Apple Watch Series 4 is almost the same as the previous generations.

STRENGTHS

• Bigger and fresh display
• Completely new parts, faster response speed
• Light main body and convenient fit 

WEAKNESSES

• ECG that does not operate in Korea
• Expensive price